St Kilda veteran Leigh Montagna admits he is unlikely to be fit before the end of the home and away season but could be available if the Saints qualify for September for the first time since 2011.
While the dual All-Australian doesn’t require surgery to repair the hamstring he strained in the Saints’ loss to Sydney last Saturday night, the injury is more severe than a traditional hamstring strain and will sideline him until the start of the finals.
Montagna, 33, is out of contract at seasons end and may have played his final game in red, white and black after 287 games of distinguished service.
“It’s unlikely I’ll play again in the home and away season, so it’s more serious than your normal hamstring as most people could see when I went down during the game,” Montagna told Triple M’s The Hot Breakfast on Thursday morning.
“There is a chance that I can play finals; that’s seven weeks away because of the bye and hopefully if we can make it I can start the push for finals, but it looks unlikely that I’ll play this home and away season.
“(My future is) up in the air now, so I possibly could have played my last game.”
Montagna concedes he walked off the SCG on Saturday night considering his football mortality, taking in the surrounds of an AFL venue for perhaps the final time as a player.
“I took it in as I was walking off the SCG and thought this possibly could be the last time I walk off a footy ground, no doubt you have those thoughts so I did take that moment,” Montagna said.
“I’ve had 16 years and loved it and really enjoyed it and it’s been a great time. But hopefully not,
With a month left in the home and away season, Montagna said he will meet with the club in the next fortnight to discuss whether he will retire at the end of the year or extend his time at the Saints into a 17th season.
“We had a brief chat (this week), but I’ll meet with the club at the end of next week or the start of the week after (to discuss my future),” he said.
“I’m in no urgent rush to find out so in the next two weeks we’ll all get together and we’ll have those conversations about everyone’s doubts, concerns and the possibilities and make a decision from there.”
